A care business owner who admitted swindling an elderly couple out of more than £100,000 has been jailed for three and half years.

David Coughlin went on a spending spree with John and Monica Davies’ money, using £9,000 on building work at his home, another £9,000 to pay a credit card bill, £2,000 to pay a deposit on a Range Rover and he spent their cash on wine and meals in pubs.

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“They were in a house heated by coal fires with a Bentley car rusting in the garage,” the judge added.

They lived in a large, rambling old-fashioned vicarage with very few modern amenities, the judge said to Coughlin. “You were with them many days for two years. You must have seen their deterioration, physical and mental. At one stage Mrs Davies was assessed with dementia and her husband was going more frail.”

Judge Hale added: “Anyone in your position has a high degree of trust and you broke that trust. You cheated these two elderly, vulnerable people.”